As the year draws to a close, we take a look back at some of the stories that shaped Sandbach in 2025.

The town saw many highs and lows throughout the year, from huge celebrations to some tragedies that shook the community.

Below, we pick out one Sandbach Nub News story from each month of the year.

January - Shaping the future



Pupils at Sandbach Town Hall for the meeting. (Photo: Nub News)

School children in Sandbach are taking part in a project to help shape the future of their town.

The youngsters were tasked with coming up with ideas for their town as we revealed here and presented some of the ideas to Sandbach Town Council.

Pupils from Offley Primary Academy and Elworth Church of England Primary School went to Sandbach Town Hall to present their ideas to councillors.

February - Mayhem on Middlewich Road

Motorists were warned they will face mayhem again after a road going in and out of Sandbach has to be repaired again - just months after the original work was carried out.

Middlewich Road in Sandbach was resurfaced in April 2024 causing motorists from Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Middlewich and others going in and out of the town having to do a big loop.

But just 10 months later, it was revealed that the "treatment" used had failed and the work has to be corrected, thankfully at no extra cost of Cheshire East.

March -

Two former pupils of a well-known former grammar school are busy adding the finishing touches to a reunion which will see people attending from all over the country and possibly further afield.

Sandbach residents, Colin Pierpoint and Stephen Oakes, are part of a committee set up to organise Winsford Verdin Grammar School reunion taking place at the end of this month (March).

Stephen Oakes and Colin Pierpoint. (Photo: Nub News)

April - Home needed for Sandy

The RSPCA made a special rehoming appeal for a cat found in the Sandbach area who was so hungry she was trying to eat plastic.

Long-haired Sandy was brought into the charity's Stapeley Grange Cattery in December by a concerned member of the public who had seen her straying and struggling to survive.

She was found in the town in a very thin condition and had matted fur and hair loss on her tail and back legs.

(Photo: RSPCA)

May - Sandbach Heath and East ward by-election

Voters in the Sandbach Heath and East ward went to the polls for Sandbach Heath and East ward by-election. There are four candidates fighting for a seat on Sandbach Town Council. Reform UK candidate Will Taylor won.

June - Blooming marvellous!

A South Cheshire family is celebrating - after striking gold again and winning a top medal at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower show.

The Hart family, who run Harts Nursery based in Smallwood near Sandbach, were awarded their 20th gold medal at the prestigious flower show.

July - Waitrose prom-style!

A teenager arrived at her prom - in her dad's Waitrose delivery van. Emily Bispham, realised she wanted to do something "different" for her Year 11 bash.

Known as the 'Waitrose girl' at Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College - as both of her parents work for the supermarket chain - she decided a delivery van was the way to go.

August -

Sandbach's WHSmith store was been rebranded to TGJones as part of a £76 million deal.

The chain announced the sale of its 233-year-old high street businesses to Modella Capital - the firm which owns Hobbycraft - earlier in the year.

The former WHSmith store in High Street, Sandbach has been replaced with 'TGJones'.

September -

Former Elworth Cricket Club chairman and avid cricket fan, Ron Davies, paid tribute to legendary cricket umpire Dickie Bird who died on 22 September.

Ron, who was chairman of Elworth for six years recalled memories of Dickie Bird, 92, who died on Monday (22 September).

He said: "Dickie Bird was not just a great umpire, he was a real cricket man and when a real cricket man is also a Yorkshire man the outcome can be very special.

October - Capricorn scheme approved

A scheme which includes a Costa and McDonald's on land off the M6 in Sandbach was approved by Cheshire East in the hope it will bring further employment development to the site.

The Capricorn development, on land bounded by Old Mill Road and the M6 northbound slip road at J17, has been in the pipeline for more than a decade.

Councillors approved a full planning application from W&S Sandbach for the construction of a drive-through coffee shop, drive-through restaurant, commercial park entrance and associated parking and landscaping, as well as outline permission for a pub and restaurant, 63-bedroom hotel and offices with associated parking and landscaping.

November - Remembrance Sunday

Sandbach residents came together to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

A large crowd gathered at the War Memorial on Sunday, November 9 for the annual Remembrance Sunday service.

They included the parents and brother of the Sandbach British soldier, Jordan Gatley, who died fighting alongside the Ukrainian forces against Russian invaders in 2022.

The service followed the parade through the town which this year started at Sandbach School in Crewe Road and included cadets, military veterans, local dignitaries and Scout groups. More pictures here

December - Annual festive deliveries

Spreading the love: Sandbach's festive deliveries hit home with the mayor's help!

Every year, free Christmas meals are delivered to the local community after being prepared and packaged up at Sandbach Rugby Club in Bradwall Road.

This year was no exception and this time Mayor, Councillor John Arnold, sang as he helped deliver some of the meals!